Faye Wattleton Sets New Plan: A Spectrum Of Issues

February 02, 1992|By Dana Micucci.

NEW YORK — ``The battle for reproductive freedom will not be won by the voice of one person, but by the collective action of all women to protect their personal rights,`` says Faye Wattleton, who announced in January she is resigning as president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc., the nation`s oldest and largest reproductive health care organization.

During her 14-year tenure, she emerged as one of the most powerful leaders of the abortion-rights movement, helping transform Planned Parenthood from a conservative family-planning charity into a political force with an activist agenda.

Wattleton, 48, who will officially leave her post at the end of March to host a syndicated daytime television talk show that will address women`s issues, among others, says she`s not abandoning the abortion-rights cause.

``I don`t think my departure will affect the debate at all,`` she says.

``Hopefully, it will cause others to say, `I have to do more myself.` There are many people who care about this issue. I`ve been at Planned Parenthood for a long time. When I was approached about a year ago with the idea of doing a talk show, I saw it as an interesting opportunity to deal with broader issues.``

Wattleton`s show is still in the developmental phase, according to a spokesman for Tribune Entertainment Co., which will syndicate it; its debut date is undetermined. Wattleton would not give specific information about the program`s expected format.

Born in St. Louis, Wattleton studied nursing at Ohio State University and went on to Columbia University to earn a master`s degree in maternal and infant health care, with a specialty in midwifery.

``I always planned to be a nurse. Back then, in the `40s and `50s, a woman was either a teacher, a social worker or a nurse,`` says Wattleton, an only child who looked to her mother, Ozie Wattleton, a minister, as a role model.

``My mother is a woman of very high integrity,`` she says. ``She taught me that it was important to have goals and to pursue them as if you were going to be successful.``

Early in her career, while working at Harlem Hospital in New York with patients who were coping with unintended pregnancies or who had illegal abortions, Wattleton adopted her mission to ensure that all people have access to a variety of reproductive health services, including safe abortions.

Her association with Planned Parenthood began in 1970 in Dayton, where for seven years she was the executive director of the organization`s local affiliate. In 1975, she was also elected chairwoman of Planned Parenthood`s council of executive directors and, three years later, became the first woman and the first black to be named national president.

Dynamic and articulate, Wattleton proved to be an effective manager, restructuring Planned Parenthood`s national staff, increasing the

organization`s efficiency and expanding its medical, educational and counseling services to a network of 900 clinics nationwide.

Under Wattleton`s leadership, Planned Parenthood`s individual donors more than doubled, while its budget and the number of clients benefiting each year from its services increased four-fold to more than $400 million and 4 million, respectively.

She led Planned Parenthood in court challenges to restrictive abortion regulations such as the ``gag rule,`` which withholds federal funding from organizations that provide abortion counseling, and announced that Planned Parenthood would not comply. So far, Planned Parenthood affiliates continue to receive federal funding.

``It has become clear that lobbying isn`t sufficient to preserve women`s reproductive freedom, which has been eroding since Ronald Reagan took office in 1980. Three terms of anti-choice presidents have restructured the judiciary and allowed the states more power to restrict abortions,`` says Wattleton.

``Women must engage in the political process by voting for pro-choice candidates.``

Some turbulent political times lie ahead, according to Wattleton, who says that she was forced to react to a conservative political climate.

Wattleton says she has weathered the distance so far with stamina, persistence and an ability to work long hours.

``The greatest challenge has been trying to balance my family life with my professional obligations,`` says Wattleton, a divorced mother of a 16-year- old daughter, Felicia. ``It`s a matter of keeping my mental and emotional health strong so that I can give my daughter the support she needs. Felicia always comes first.``

David J. Andrews, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood will take over for Wattleton when she leaves in March until a successor is named.

The opposition says that Wattleton led Planned Parenthood in a disastrous direction.

``She made it into an abortion-advocacy group that undermines the future of the American family,`` says Wanda Franz, president of the National Right to Life Committee. ``It`s important not to lose sight of the fact that abortion is not a routine procedure. It`s a life-and-death decision.``

Anti-abortion activists may view Wattleton`s resignation as a plus for them, according to Kate Michelman, executive director of the National Abortion Rights Action League.

``We were surprised by her resignation. There are few who equal Faye in eloquence and stature,`` says Michelman. ``She made an enormous contribution to the pro-choice movement and has been an important role model for African-American women especially. But her leaving is not going to change anything. Now, she can take her strength to another medium to advance women`s rights. The abortion debate will continue.``